Print Email Facebook Twitter The potential and current status of earthen material for low-cost housing in rural India Title The potential and current status of earthen material for low-cost housing in rural India Author Kulshreshtha, Y. (TU Delft Materials and Environment) Mota, Nelson (TU Delft Space & Type) Jagadish, Kaup S. (Indian Institute of Science) Bredenoord, Jan (International Urban Planner/Housing Researcher) Vardon, P.J. (TU Delft Geo-engineering) van Loosdrecht, Mark C.M. (TU Delft BT/Environmental Biotechnology) Jonkers, H.M. (TU Delft Materials and Environment) Date 2020 Abstract There is an enormous demand for rural housing in India that needs to be catered for within a short span of time. Building with earth (mud) is proposed as an economical and environmental friendly alternative due to the rising costs of conventional building materials. However, the construction of earthen houses has significantly declined in India and thus it is necessary to evaluate if they can make a valuable contribution to contemporary housing shortage. Therefore, an informal survey was conducted in India to understand factors favouring or limiting the construction and daily use of earthen houses. The outcome of the survey suggests that ‘Image’ is the key barrier against a wide acceptance of traditional earthen houses which are linked to poverty. While modern earthen construction is desired, it is expensive for low-income households. The role of earth in addressing the contemporary housing shortage is analysed and suggestions are given for the implementation of modern earthen technologies for low-cost affordable rural housing. Initiatives by middle-high income households, entrepreneurs and government can trigger a widespread interest in earthen construction. Successful demonstration of durable earthen structures at diverse locations and contexts can act as catalysts for change of the image of earth and make it a desirable material for low-cost housing in rural India. Subject Earthen constructionImageLow-cost housingRural India To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:f0f8710d-da0e-4cd2-bd0f-f3bd0a20f493 DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.118615 ISSN 0950-0618 Source Construction and Building Materials, 247, 1-14 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2020 Y. Kulshreshtha, Nelson Mota, Kaup S. Jagadish, Jan Bredenoord, P.J. Vardon, Mark C.M. van Loosdrecht, H.M. Jonkers Files PDF 1_s2.0_S0950061820306206_main.pdf 2.45 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:f0f8710d-da0e-4cd2-bd0f-f3bd0a20f493/datastream/OBJ/view